What is this, torture? I finally get a thread ... I gasp out loud ... goosebumps appear up and down my spine ... I hold my breath ..... click ..... AND THERE IS NOTHING! BWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Don't worry, I'm sure it's on the way. Now I know how the kid felt when he woke up on xmas morning to find a pile of horse manure in his bedroon and immediately jumped into it exclaiming "Hooray, there must be a pony!" My pony is on the way. Just a matter of time now. I just have to wait ... be patient .... I can do it ... I think.

I swear when I first clicked there was nothing! Our postings must have crossed in the netherworld of the net. Thanks for the pix. You wouldn't believe how exciting it is to see this! (Or maybe you would, you've probably heard this before). Now my poor wife will have to listen to me blather about this all night. Well not really all night - we're going to the Fillmore tonight to see John Prine. Hey, my FTC thread and John Prine on the same day! Life is indeed good!

The pattern will be flip-flopped on the peghead - cocobolo front and quilted maple back. The May, 2002 COTM had cocobolo top and quilted maple back. The peghead on that one was ebony with the maple on the back. See it here:

It's hard to tell from the picture, and the need to redraw, but this looks a little like the "Rounded Crown" peghead on "Further & Beyond" in the custom archive. I hope that's not the case as I prefer the standard Further pointed crown (Bless its pointed little head!)

I was also wondering why it looks like some of the vermilion lams are missing, then I realized, DUH, truss rods! Thanks for the pix. This is very cool.

I just got back from NY and four days without a computer. I hadn't checked the site yet and I had to go to Santa Rosa today, so I stopped by and checked out my Further and WOWWWWW!!!!! It was very cool to actually hold it in my hands. Thanks sooooo much to everyone at Alembic. The guitar is coming together beyond my expectations.

Graeme & Jonathan:

You guys are right, the back piece is pretty spectacular, but the front is going to have the wonderful 3-D effect of quilted maple - my personal favorite. I think I picked out a piece that will hold it's own with the cocbolo once the elves do their magic.

It's weird. You see pictures of the pieces in-progress and think "Yummy; that's going to be a really neat guitar."

You see pictures of the beastie assembled and you think "Yeah, that's a really neat guitar."

You see pictures of the guitar under finish, and you think "Holy Crap! That's un !@#$%^* Un!@$#%^*believable guitar!"

Seriously, Bill, you and the crew have absolutely nailed the perfect balance of all-out WOW and completely understated elegance. There's a huge amount of stuff going on, visually, but it all balances out and supports the overall look. Without going one step overboard, she's a museum-quality piece.

I believe I'm in line for inlay art. I suspect the folks at Alembic are going to be a little busy and distracted for the next week or so and they're also trying to get Scott's Further done for a gig he has next Saturday. Then there's one not too intricate inlay job in front of me and then it's my turn! I'm hoping to have it in time for a gig I'm doing on November 5th. (Annual benefit for SAMM - Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana - in Sebastopol). Come on down!

I think Jeff may have started something. I too will take this opportuinity to wish my forming Further a Happy New Year:

I'm sure you'll be partying with all the other Alembics in various stages of construction once the elves lock up and the lights go out! Have fun, but be cool. And oh yeah, this is your LAST New Years in Santa Rosa. To paraphrase some of my people, "Next year in Oakland!"

A great New Year to everyone on this board. May all your dreams come true and get delivered without any damage! LOL